Icons

In addition to being objects of sacred devotion, the Icons of the Orthodox world have long been admired even by those for whom they have no particular religious significance. The craftsmanship and expressive power of these holy images are capable of inspiring awe centuries after their creation. They are also objects of archeological interest--the evolution in the techniques and style of icon painting reveal the changes and crises that Orthodoxy has undergone. Kurt Weitzmann, Manolis Chatzidakis, and Svetozar Radojc̆ić have striven to provide a well-rounded commentary on the icons here presented; their writing points out the intrinsic merit of each work and also discusses its place in the historical development of this art form. Although the book deals with only three geographic locations--Sinai, Greece, and Yugoslavia--the breadth of knowledge of the authors is such that the text is anything but a fragmentary record. In spite of the limitations of present archeological data, these men have done a marvelous job in presenting this subject with depth and clarity. -- Inside jacket flap.